Islanders' Matthew Schaefer unanimous Calder Trophy winner - ESPN

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer has won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year and is the first unanimous choice for the award in 33 years.

Schaefer, 18, was surprised with the trophy during an interview on ABC's «Good Morning America.» His father, Todd; his brother, Johnny; and former Islanders player Matt Martin and Martin's two daughters were present for the big reveal.

Schaefer lived with the Martins last season.

Schaefer dedicated his win to his late mother, Jennifer, whom he lost to breast cancer in 2024. Schaefer recently partnered with the Islanders Children's Foundation and Northwell Health to create a child support center for cancer patients and their families.

«We've done a lot as a family. My mom's helped me and my family so much with everything. We've had some tough losses, but it hasn't stopped us as a family. We've gotten a lot closer,» a tearful Schaefer said. «This definitely means a lot. This year was super important to me.»

The NHL decided to not delay the inevitable, naming Schaefer rookie of the year just over a week after revealing the finalists. The Islanders defenseman was a unanimous choice from the Professional Hockey Writers Association voters on all 198 ballots. He's the first ROY winner to sweep the first-place votes since Teemu Selanne of the Winnipeg Jets in 1992-93.

Montreal Canadiens forward Ivan Demidov, 20, was second in the voting, earning 120 second-place votes. Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke, 20, was third.

Schaefer had a transformative effect on the Islanders on and off the ice. He finished with 23 goals, tied for first among rookies, and 36 assists for 59 points — breaking Hockey Hall of Famer Phil Housley's record for points by an